Report: British FM to Meet Senior Officials in Brief Visit to Beirut

British Foreign Secretary William Hague is expected to arrive in Lebanon this week on a short visit to meet with senior officials in a tour that includes several countries in the region.

As Safir newspaper reported on Tuesday that Hague will tackle several issues with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, and his counterpart FM Adnan Mansour.

According to the daily, the British diplomat will discuss with the Lebanese officials the Burgas bombing, in which Bulgaria blames Hizbullah of the deadly attack on Israeli tourists last year.

A diplomatic source pointed out that Britain is pressing the European Union to label Hizbullah's military wing as a terrorist group.

Hague will also address his country's aid program to the Lebanese Military, and the importance of holding the upcoming parliamentary elections on time.

He will voice his country's readiness to offer any technical help in this regard.

Sharp differences emerged to the surface among Lebanese foes over the electoral system that will be adopted during the polls as the joint parliamentary committees are currently discussing the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, which states that each sect elects its lawmakers based on proportional representation.

The British FM is also, according to As Safir, expected to tackle the conditions of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon and his country's support to the state.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said recently that at least 283,000 refugees have fled Syria to Lebanon and are currently receiving aid from the Lebanese state, the U.N. and other non-governmental organizations.